The Tradition Behind our Tradition
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Week 5
by Adam White

Traditions, we all have them—the understandings, practices, events, and so on that can be passed down from generation to generation. Maybe you have a tradition of singing certain songs with your family around Christmas time. Perhaps you have a tradition of eating specific dishes that have been handed down from your family. Or, it could be that you are in the process of creating your own traditions , like taking a trip with friends someplace new every year.

Wisdom for the Way, SpotlightAdam WhiteOctober 11, 2017Adam White, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, theme VI, tradition, God UnboundComment

Heart of the Neighborhood

Heart of the Neighborhood
by Wendi Bernau

The Heart of the Neighborhood event at The Mix on September 16 was filled with great energy, centered around the Grand Opening of the newly renovated commercial kitchen.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationOctober 6, 2017Wendi Bernau, The Mix Kitchen, The Mix, community, neighborsComment

A Common Story for the Church

A Common Story for the Church
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Week 4
by Adam White

Stories are important; they help inform us about who we are and where we are going.

Any good story will likely have dynamic characters, a strong plotline, interesting subplots, a visually captivating setting, and well crafted details.

Wisdom for the Way, DevotionalAdam WhiteOctober 4, 2017theme VI, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, story, Nicene Creed, Wesley, tradition, Adam WhiteComment

Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3...

Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3...
by Caitlin Coleman

Last May, Caitlin Coleman went on pilgrimage to Iona, Scotland with a group led by Larry Duggins. In her blog, cait'scomments, Caitlin shares her thoughts and the path she has chosen since some deep reflection began in Iona.

I haven’t written in a while. A long while. Since June of last year, to be specific. And today, not only was I questioned why I hadn’t written, but I was reminded that it was indeed a very good time to share some of the overwhelming thoughts, experiences, realizations, and epiphanies that have accumulated in my mind over the past 8 months.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationSeptember 29, 2017pilgrimage, MWF connections, ionaComment

Sola Scriptura?

Sola Scriptura?
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Week 3
by Andrea Lingle

Our garden is a terrible tumbled mess right now. The broomcorn has gone to seed and we haven’t made a single broom. Weeds have invaded the sweet potatoes, and we got one meal’s worth of green beans. This is late summer. We have officially missed fall planting like I do every single year. Every. Single. Year.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAndrea LingleSeptember 27, 2017Andrea Lingle, theme VI, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, scriptureComment

St. Joseph's Girls Orphanage

St. Joseph's Girls Orphanage

In the world of stories from friends and companions whose paths have crossed with Missional Wisdom Foundation, Maggie and Darryl Patterson have played a role. Through a desire to find and be "more" in the world, and fueled and inspired by family tragedy, these friends have taken a derelict orphanage in Australia and turned it into a place that serves vulnerable children. (Originally published by Eternity News, by Tess Holgate and Bryce McLellan)

On the outskirts of Goulburn, in country NSW, an ordinary couple are hard at work turning the old St Joseph’s Girls Orphanage into a community hub, complete with café and accommodation for vulnerable women and children.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationSeptember 22, 2017MWF connections, missional, missional livingComment

The B-I-B-L-E

The B-I-B-L-E
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Week 2
by Andrea Lingle

The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me.

Actually, I have a rather volatile relationship with the B-I-B-L-E. It is a book that I have read and re-read, but do not understand. It is surprising, confusing, infuriating, and precious. There are stories that have left me terrified, inspired, and everything in between.

San Luis Valley

San Luis Valley Summer Internship Reflection
by Amber Oxley

Hi y’all! My name is Amber Oxley and I am the house steward of the St. Francis House in Dallas, Tx. I joined the Missional Wisdom community three years ago in this house. We’ve experienced transition and joyful ministry in the house with various residents since we began with the support of Lakewood United Methodist Church three years ago this August. Last summer, I was given an opportunity to serve in a pastoral internship in the Rocky Mountain Conference.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationSeptember 15, 2017summer, Epworth House, Epworth ProjectComment

Foundational Issues

Foundational Issues: The Wesleyan Quadrilateral
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Week 1
by Adam White

We all need foundations to build upon. This exists physically for the construction and repair of houses and buildings, emotionally for establishing relationships with each other, and spiritually for our faith.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAdam WhiteSeptember 13, 2017theme VI, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Adam WhiteComment

It Is Time

It Is Time
by Bret Wells

Since the first cohort in 2011, Launch & Lead (formerly known as The Academy for Missional Wisdom) has been equipping people and teams from all over the US to launch and lead alternative forms of Christian community, and/or provide support to those who do.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationSeptember 6, 2017Launch & Lead, Bret WellsComment

Heroes You Should Know

"Hurricane Harvey hit Texas on Saturday, taking lives and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Once the storm downgraded to Tropical Storm Harvey, even more damage was done, bringing in unprecedented flooding and raising the death toll to eight, a number expected to rise. In Houston alone, an estimated 30,000 will be forced to flee their homes and seek shelter; 450,000 others will require some sort of disaster assistance.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationSeptember 1, 2017disaster relief, missional, missional livingComment

Journey

Journey
by Robert Bishop

As we prepare to begin a new series of devotional thoughts in a couple of weeks, we have asked some Missional Wisdom Foundation staff members to tell us more about some upcoming classes and events.

Autumn is close, and the kids have either gone back to school or are well on their way. Back to school isn’t just for the kids, though. If you’ve been searching for a way to grow your engagement in your community, the Missional Wisdom Foundation has you covered.

The Gospel is Sweet

The Gospel is Sweet
by Larry Duggins

[A couple of weeks ago,] I watched the first harvest of honey from the bee hives at Haw Creek. There was joy, there was learning, there was cooperation and helping – there were so many wonderful affirmations of how a group of bee keepers can be a church.

Wisdom for the Way, SpotlightMissional Wisdom FoundationAugust 25, 2017Haw Creek Commons, bees, honeyComment

What Doesn't Missional Mean?

What Doesn't Missional Mean?
What Does Missional Mean?, Week 14
by Andrea Lingle

For the last three months we have been on the journey of contemplating what does missional mean?

We discussed how the Gospel serves as a missional initiation to reorient our lives in following Christ.

Wisdom for the Way, DevotionalAndrea LingleAugust 23, 2017Andrea Lingle, missional, What Does Missional Mean?, Theme V, conclusionComment

Be the Artist...

Be the Artist God Created You to Be!
by Rev. Gary A. Shockley, a friend and supporter of Missional Wisdom Foundation, and member of our Dispersed Community

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” -Pablo Picasso.

Because we are made in the image of Creator we are all creative. Every one of us has the potential to do something that sparks imagination, expresses feelings, provokes thought and helps others to experience beauty: painting, sculpture, music, dance, gardening, writing, cooking, singing, preaching, coaching, teaching, praying (and the list goes on) are all forms of creativity.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationAugust 18, 2017art, MWF connections, creativityComment

Neighboring

Neighboring
What Does Missional Mean?, Week 13
by Andrea Lingle

Living missionally might, with all of its connection with New Monasticism and intentional community, seem impossible for those living within the confines of a school schedule and a minivan.

L & L Student, Diane Rheos

Launch & Lead Student, Diane Rheos
Diane shares here the ways in which she is using the skills she is learning to launch and lead new communities.

A Community in Partnership with a Great Lead Team
The WaySide is an intentional Christian community connected to Fremont United Methodist Church in Portland Oregon.

We are getting to know how we can be supported by our lead team, which we call The WaySide Outside. Together we hosted an all church event on Sunday July 23rd . In Portland each summer there are Sunday Parkway events. The city closes a loop of streets and hundreds of people get on their bikes and make the circuit. The WaySide house-mates suggested the idea of an event to host a BBQ and then participate in the ride. The WaySide Outside Team were enthusiastic supporters. Together we provided a BBQ lunch for everyone in attendance that Sunday morning, and then a group of people decorated their bikes, and rode on the Sunday Parkways cycling route.

Missional Imagination

Missional Imagination
What Does Missional Mean?, Week 12
by Andrea Lingle and Bret Wells

The active work of the Missional Wisdom Foundation is lived out through ongoing missional experimentation. These experiments are developed through a conjunction of the contemplative stance and missional imagination.

Imagination is what we experience when a story takes root in our mind. As the tendrils of narrative spread, new regions of brain activity are ignited. Once our imagination is fully
engaged, we not only hear the story but we see the story; we can smell it, taste it, touch
it...experience it.

L & L Alum, Mary Beth Taylor

Launch & Lead Alum, Mary Beth Taylor

This week’s spotlight is taken from Together: Community as a Means of Grace by Larry Duggins.

Reverend Mary Beth Taylor noticed a different kind of community while she was Associate Pastor at Littleton UMC outside of Denver. Mary Beth, also a graduate of Launch & Lead, noticed that many people enjoyed spending some of their recreational time having a cold beer and some appetizers at the local pub, just like she and her life partner, Steve. She pulled together a small group of people and formed Open Space, a community that meets monthly in a local bar and grill.

Model Trains and Tadpoles

Model Trains and Tadpoles!
What Does Missional Mean?, Week 11
by Adam White

What do model trains and tadpoles have in common? This newsletter article!

This week we are looking at two stories of missional living from two different communities of faith, a local church and a neo-monastic community.